Latest Stories from Charlie
£81 million given to new climate tipping point warning system
The UK’s Advanced Research and Invention Agency (Aria) has given 27 teams a total of £81 million to determine signals that would warn us of imminent climate collapse and catastrophes. A new, ambitious climate change project has received a sizeable sum of cash to get the ball rolling. The UK’s Advanced Research and Invention Agency (Aria) financially backs high-risk, high-reward projects. It has just awarded £81 million to 27 teams that...
Tourists block rescue services to view Etna eruption
Thousands have clambered to see the dramatic eruptions of Mount Etna, but all the commotion is causing problems for local emergency services. Mount Etna is currently erupting in Sicily, offering plenty of dramatic moments that make for ideal photographs. However, while it may be perfect for images, the huge surge in tourists and onlookers has caused problems for local emergency services. Some people are reportedly blocking streets and authorities are concerned. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2YvIykIZHs Sicily’s...
Life expectancy growth slows in Europe with England worst off
Improvements in life expectancy are stalling all over Europe. England is feeling the biggest slowdown of all, with nutritionists blaming a mix of poor diet, mass inactivity and soaring obesity. Growth in life expectancy is slowing across Europe, with England currently witnessing the sharpest decline. This does not mean that life expectancy itself is declining, just the pace of improvement. Experts blame the slow down on a mix of several factors,...
New NTIA study shows young people ‘priced out’ of nightlife
Fresh research by the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) shows that young people in the UK are going out less than they were a year ago. It seems like Gen Z may be unable to go out in the evenings due to financial pressures. New research conducted by Obsurvant on behalf of the NTIA indicates that less young people are attending nightclubs. Money pressures, safety concerns and transport hindrances all play...
Could Spotify’s HiFi streaming tier drop in 2025?
Spotify first announced a HiFi tier of music streaming almost four years ago. It looks like its original plans could finally be put into effect this year. The world’s most popular streaming service Spotify looks set to launch its new HiFi subscription tier this year. First announced in 2021, Bloomberg has reported that the company hopes to roll out this new feature soon. Speaking anonymously, the source said that Spotify aims...
Meta planning to build new sub-sea internet cable across globe
As part of Project Waterworth, the cable will connect many key regions. Meta plans to create boosted connectivity across major continents to support future projects like AI. Meta, the parent company that owns many social media platforms including WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook, is planning on building a 50,000km sub-sea cable across the entire globe. The development will be part of Project Waterworth, the longest underwater cable project ever. If successful, a...
Taylor Swift becomes biggest female artist of all time in the UK
Taylor Swift has now become the biggest female artist of all time in the UK, with the most UK No 1 albums ever. The record means she has officially surpassed Madonna. The rise and cultural dominance of Taylor Swift continues with no real end in sight. She has just broken Madonna’s record as the female artist with the most No 1 albums in the UK thanks to the release of...
What do Gen Z really think about the UK?
New research by The Times has found that Gen Z has remarkably different opinions on the UK than Millennials did twenty years ago. What’s causing the change and why? If you live in the UK, what are the first words that come to mind when I ask you to describe our island? Grey, monotonous, dreary…any of that feel familiar? While I can probably bank on most people agreeing on those...
US rejects most of Nintendo’s anti-Palworld patent claims
Nintendo could move its legal battle over Palworld to the US, though 22 out of 23 of its recent patent claims were rejected. It is part of a complicated and ongoing legal tangle with Pocketpair. Remember the game Palworld? It was billed as ‘Pokémon with guns’ by most gaming journalists and set the Steam charts ablaze when it first launched in January 2024. The title offers a mix of open-world...
Google Calendar removes key cultural events including Pride
As part of its ongoing roll back of diversity initiatives, Google has removed several inclusive holidays from its Calendar service. It says their inclusion was ‘not sustainable’ for its future. Google Calendar has removed several key cultural holidays from it services on both desktop and mobile. These include references to Black History Month, Women’s History Month and LGBTQ+ holidays, among others. The company has previously marked the occasion for all...
